Should they be written third or first person?
Its in the social sciences so i usually use third person but am getting conflicting views from the department.
Opinions please xx

Struggling??? you bet. I feel as though there is so much pressure for me to conform to other peoples expectations instead of my own. If I was just left to myself I'd be enjoying this. They want me to have a certain point of view, write in a certain way...I had more autonomy as an undergrad!!
But part of me keeps saying this is my work and I keep proposing compromises, some of which I get away with some not, but it makes me feel still in control of the process.
You have done the right thing turing down publication at this time...if its good enough for publication now it will still be good enough in a few months. I'd say contrary to how you feel you have a good grasp of whats best for you and are staying true to that course...so if I were you I wouldnt feel down about it but congratulate yourself on being strong enough to handle the mechanics of it and if you can do that managing family/friends/supervisors will be a piece of pee!!

When I met Mr Felix he confessed that historian was purely a title given to him by the TV company and that he has no formal qualification in this area. He is a gentleman and very kindly gave us an impromptu tour of derby gaol with Phil Whyman and Ian Lawman...I can guarentee the place is haunted...and I am a semi-sceptic!!! I got piccies and autographs sad monkey that I am...to be honest the degree result just paled into insignificance......may dig out a MH dvd this evening for old times sake.....

Movement of other students around the country should be restricted and consequently all supervisory sessions cancelled for the foreseeable future

Sounds like Avian flu...maybe you should set up an exclusion zone around your desk?

Thankyou for your hellos!!!!!
I used to be into Most Haunted when the lovely Phill was on board but havnt watched it for ages, have done a couple of ghost hunts though which have been fun.
Good to know I have some back up to walk the next three years with me...cheers guys,
xx

oopppps sorry got cut off. Anyhow be honest and say you need positive help to see this through and that negativity has just left you panicked. Once you have things in black and white it is so much easier to priortise and build a plan of action. The biggest thing for you at the moment is plain and simple Fear...don't be paralysed by it...TAKE CONTROL and you can easily achieve your goal. You are worthy of this PhD don't be blinded by negativity from others. lol Dazed x

Do supervisors take any lessons in how to give constructive feedback?
I am only in my first year but after my third supervisory session I was left in pieces after an essay I submitted was torn to shreds. I lost all confidence and began to doubt myself...I guess you are in the same position only worse as you are nearing the end. My advice is to reclaim control of YOUR PhD. Ask for a meeting and say that while you appreciate the feedback was necessary it has left you disorientated and you would like some positive pointers to how you can improve it. Remain calm and write down exactly what you want to say before the meeting. Take a dictaphone so you can clarify exactly what their point are.

I've always used NVIVO but I know some people in the department still use nudist.
NVIVO is fairly simple to work out and you can get into it quickly.
hth, Dazed x

Hello all,
I've been doing my PhD now for about 4 months and have just started posting in the post grad forum but thought I'd say hi here. I am in the school of sociology/social policy on a CASE studentship with the ESRC.
I am a non traditional student with a hubby and kids and work mainly from home so feel very isolated a lot of the time. The PhD isnt quite what I expected and so far hasnt been as enjoyable as I thought but I am determined to see it through.
Hobbies errr reading, music (seeing Keane in a couple of weeks), gardening, bell ringing not much time for anything else
Interesting facts about me........none actually...well I met Phil Whyman and richard felix the day my BA results came out, thats as glamourous as it gets.
Hope you'll accept me into your community.
lol Dazed

Four months in now and got really down over christmas. Hardly a day went by when I didnt think of quitting. Financial pressure is really intense and if I'd took a job instead of the PhD We would be so much better off. Felt guilty I was making the family suffer again because of my study. But today was a good day and I feel very motivated so its ok. To me its a day by day thing and if I can just get through each one I will cope with the full three years (or more!!)

Hi there, I agree you need to try to connect with others but not sure how you can go about doing it. I also struggle with motivation as I work mainly from home and am a way away from uni. I try to go in once a week and just hang around the post grad rooms and get a snippet of conversation with other students..I don't know many of them so they probably think I am a real weirdo. Also there is only one other student who is researching in my area. I do know that once I have had just half an hour chatting to her I am fired up again. Def. try to make a connection, xx

Hi there first post for me but really pleased to see I'm not on my own!! 4 months in and apart froma couple of essays and the crit reviews I am currently working on I havnt actually done anything directly connected with the PhD. I have an upgrade in June which needs a 12000 word document so hopefully that will make me focus.
Sometimes cold panic grips me and I wonder what the hell I do do all day!
lol Dazed